Bryant torches Suns again in vintage S&D effort

After losing to Phoenix in the 2006 and 2007 playoffs, Bryant’s consciousness still is seared by slights he remembers from those series.

“We had a really tough playoff series against them two years in a row and they beat us bad,” Bryant told the Los Angeles Times. “We had a 3-1 series lead and they came back and got us [in 2006]. They had some choice words for us afterwards. I’ll never forget those.”

Bryant made the Suns pay again Friday night. He erupted for 36 points, including 18 in the third quarter, to pace the Lakers’ 111-99 victory over the Suns.

The victory boosted the Lakers to 18-12 for the season as they have the fifth-best record in the Western Conference.

Even with those early struggles, Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry told reporters that the Lakers always will be a formidable challenge anywhere they finish.

“As long as they have No.24, they will be thought of that way,” Gentry said. “Their record doesn’t really matter. They still have him, (center Andrew) Bynum and (forward Pau) Gasol.

“”At the end of the day, are you telling me anybody would want to play them in the playoffs in the first round? No, I don’t think so. I don’t think anyone is begging to play them in the playoffs in the first round.”

It marked the third consecutive big game that Bryant has produced against the Suns. He has scored at least 40 points in each of his last two games against them, including a season-best 48-point effort Jan. 10 that is tied for the biggest scoring game in the league this season.

“Obviously, Kobe went off,” Bynum told the Associated Press. “He had (36) points, and the rest of us were just kind of filling in the gaps.”

STUDS

Los Angeles Lakers G Kobe Bryant: Went for 36 points, nine rebounds, six assists, four steals and was plus-4 in the Lakers’ victory over Phoenix.

Utah F Al Jefferson: Notched 34 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and was a game-high plus-25 in the Jazz’s victory over Washington.

Detroit G Rodney Stuckey: Erupted for 36 points and was a game-high plus-11 in the Pistons’ victory over Sacramento.

Minnesota F Kevin Love: Produced 33 points, 17 rebounds, two blocks and was plus-11 in the Timberwolves’ victory at Houston.

Orlando C Dwight Howard: Muscled for 26 points, 20 rebounds, four blocks and was plus-18 in the Heat’s victory over Milwaukee.

Memphis F Dante Cunningham: Produced the game-winning tip-in with less than a second remaining to boost the Grizzlies’ victory over Denver. Cunningham had only one other basket in the game, but his game-winning tip was the Grizzlies’ only offensive rebound in the fourth quarter.

DUDS

Milwaukee F Jon Brockman: Missed all three shots with three turnovers and was a game-worst minus-25 in the Bucks’ loss at Orlando.

New Orleans F-C Solomon Jones: Committed four turnovers in four minutes of playing time and was minus-6 in the Hornets’ victory at New York.

Orlando G Jason Richardson: Went 2 for 11 from the field with two turnovers and was minus-4 in the Heat’s triumph over Milwaukee.

New York G Jeremy Lin: Went for 26 points, but his nine turnovers tied an NBA high for the season. Lin also produced five assists — lowest for any of his starts for the Knicks — and was minus-8 in New York’s loss to New Orleans.

Philadelphia G Jrue Holiday: Missed all nine shots from the field and was minus-20 in the Sixers’ loss to Dallas.

Milwaukee G Brandon Jennings: Struggled through a 4-for-20 shooting effort and was minus-14 in the Bucks’ loss at Orlando.